Eight km outside of Rhodes Town, the West Coast road will take you through Ixia to Trianda. The former is a small but popular resort with many high rise hotels. Trianda is built on the site of the ancient City of Ialysos. If you are staying in this resort, you should not miss the walk to the church of Our Lady of Filerimos. Built in the 13th century, destroyed, rebuilt, adapted by the Knights, Turks and later the Italians, the church is now a favourite spot for romantic weddings between young Rhodians.
Ialysos, was one of the three ancient cities and was famous for athletic prowess at the ancient olympic games. In 408 B.C. the new unified capital of Rhodes Town was built and many of the inhabitants left and the city fell into decline.
Eight km after Paradeisi is the Valley of the Butterflies (Petaloudes). A cool wooded valley attracts thousands of butterflies (Callimorpha Quadripunctaria) and with it, thousands of tourists. Between June to September, the butterflies hatch from their chrysalis and breed the following season's offspring. A loud noise sets the whole of the wood alive with the creatures. Your guides will attempt to stop you making such a noise, but a tip is to keep you cameras ready and follow any Greek tourists who seem oblivious from the warnings and make one loud noise after another.
About thirtyfive km outside of Rhodes Town is the third ancient city, the City of Kamiros. Built on a hillside and in full view of the sea probably lead to the city's downfall. Plundered by pirates the city fell into decline and finally died in the 4th century A.D. As impressive as Knossos on Crete, or Pompeii in Italy, the ruins are well worth a visit. The houses, roads, market place, baths, temple and water systems are visible. The towns folk were farmers and traded wines, olive oil and pottery. Although not essentially seafaring, sixteen km away was the port of ancient Kamiros, Kamiros Skala (Skala is Greek for landing place or port). Nearby is the Castle of Kastellios, built to protect the eastern side of the island by the Knights of St. John.
The strangest site on the island is a large hotel on Mt. Profitis Ilias. It is built in the stile of a Swiss Alpine Hotel.
The organised trips will include the usual tour of Ceramic factories, Wine factories and Byzantine churches, which can all be avoided if you hire your own transport. However, the Byzantine church of St. Nicholas, at Fountoukli has some impressive icons and should not be missed.
